MLB Draft - Day 2 Review
It didn't take long for the Dodgers to start nabbing hitters, as LA used its first 3 picks and 7 of its first 9 second day selections on position players. Here are some notable prospects:
Pick 5: Angelo Songco, OF (Loyola Marymount)
Scouting Report: At 6'0 190 lbs, the lefty hitting Songco is big enough to be a power hitter and he showed that off last year in the Cape Cod league by placing second in the circuit with 8 home runs. He was one of the top college bats in California this spring, hitting .360/.481/.678. He's an average runner with adequate arm strength.
Analysis: He's a great value pick in the 4th and a better bet to hit than Blake Smith. There was talk earlier in the spring of Songco possibly being a first rounder. He'll probably move to LF with Smith in RF, but he profiles as a middle of the order masher.
Pick 6: JT Wise, C (U of Oklahoma)
Scouting Report: After spending the first two years of his college career playing second and third for LSU, Wise went to Oklahoma and began catching as a junior. He put up modest offensive numbers as he was still adjusting to his new full time position, but broke out something fierce as a senior. He hit .359/.414/.665 with 17 HR and greatly improved his defense in 2009. He's a very good athlete for a catcher, with a strong arm and a quick release.
Analysis: Already 23, Wise doesn't have much time to develop in the minors and will have to move quickly. He'll need to prove this season wasn't a fluke and that he's capable of hitting well with good defense in pro ball. I'd start him at Ogden and skip him right up to Inland Empire; he should be able to hit well at both stops.
Pick 7: Jan Vazquez, C (PR HS)
Scouting Report: Vazquez wasn't the biggest name to come out of Puerto Rico this spring but he certainly did the most to help his draft stock. He's a switch-hitter with good speed and athleticism, as well as great leadership ability and maturity. He earned MVP honors at the Excellence Games in May. He's a bit undersized at 5'10 160 lbs, but he has some bat speed and power potential.
Analysis: I like Vazquez more than Wise, mainly because he's 5 years younger but also because he seems to do everything well. He's the jack-of-all-trades, master of none type of player who will go overlooked by scouts because nothing really stands out but once he gets on the field, he produces. With Wise and Tony Delmonico ahead of him, Jan can take his time developing. I expect him to begin the year in the GCL.
Pick 20: Nick Akins, LF (Vanguard College)
Scouting Report: Drafted 3 years ago by the Dodgers and last year by the Nationals, Akins has consistently shown great pro tools and rawness on the field. This season, he hit .314 with 13 home runs, but also struck out 37 times. Once seen as a shortstop, Nick now plays LF where he can show off his speed and plus arm strength.
Analysis: He was a much better prospect in 2006 when he was 18. Now 21, Akins may feel more compelled to sign a pro contract. Something the Dodgers have going for them is the fact that Nick lists Manny Ramirez as his sports hero. He has some holes in his game, but enough upside to warrant an over-slot bonus to get him into the system.
Pick 26: Richie Shaffer, SS (NC HS)
Scouting Report: Shaffer was ranked as the 50th best draft prospect by Baseball America last November. But a month later, he'd break a hamate bone in his hand which would hamper his swing all year and eventually require surgery. When healthy, Richie would show off plus hit and power tools with adequate arm strength and speed.
Analysis: The hand injury will probably land Shaffer in Clemson and he could end up being a first round pick in 2012. It would be great if the Dodgers could sign him out of his college commitment, but McCourt has yet to show that he's willing to spend big bucks on late round picks. Hopefully, that trend will end this year.
Overall: A solid second day for the Dodgers. Songco should sign and come out swinging, while the two athletic backstops picked behind him offer some upside. If the Dodgers could sign Shaffer I'd be thrilled, though I don't expect it to happen. Be sure to check back tomorrow as I recap the draft's final day.
Pick 5: Angelo Songco, OF (Loyola Marymount)
Scouting Report: At 6'0 190 lbs, the lefty hitting Songco is big enough to be a power hitter and he showed that off last year in the Cape Cod league by placing second in the circuit with 8 home runs. He was one of the top college bats in California this spring, hitting .360/.481/.678. He's an average runner with adequate arm strength.
Analysis: He's a great value pick in the 4th and a better bet to hit than Blake Smith. There was talk earlier in the spring of Songco possibly being a first rounder. He'll probably move to LF with Smith in RF, but he profiles as a middle of the order masher.
Pick 6: JT Wise, C (U of Oklahoma)
Scouting Report: After spending the first two years of his college career playing second and third for LSU, Wise went to Oklahoma and began catching as a junior. He put up modest offensive numbers as he was still adjusting to his new full time position, but broke out something fierce as a senior. He hit .359/.414/.665 with 17 HR and greatly improved his defense in 2009. He's a very good athlete for a catcher, with a strong arm and a quick release.
Analysis: Already 23, Wise doesn't have much time to develop in the minors and will have to move quickly. He'll need to prove this season wasn't a fluke and that he's capable of hitting well with good defense in pro ball. I'd start him at Ogden and skip him right up to Inland Empire; he should be able to hit well at both stops.
Pick 7: Jan Vazquez, C (PR HS)
Scouting Report: Vazquez wasn't the biggest name to come out of Puerto Rico this spring but he certainly did the most to help his draft stock. He's a switch-hitter with good speed and athleticism, as well as great leadership ability and maturity. He earned MVP honors at the Excellence Games in May. He's a bit undersized at 5'10 160 lbs, but he has some bat speed and power potential.
Analysis: I like Vazquez more than Wise, mainly because he's 5 years younger but also because he seems to do everything well. He's the jack-of-all-trades, master of none type of player who will go overlooked by scouts because nothing really stands out but once he gets on the field, he produces. With Wise and Tony Delmonico ahead of him, Jan can take his time developing. I expect him to begin the year in the GCL.
Pick 20: Nick Akins, LF (Vanguard College)
Scouting Report: Drafted 3 years ago by the Dodgers and last year by the Nationals, Akins has consistently shown great pro tools and rawness on the field. This season, he hit .314 with 13 home runs, but also struck out 37 times. Once seen as a shortstop, Nick now plays LF where he can show off his speed and plus arm strength.
Analysis: He was a much better prospect in 2006 when he was 18. Now 21, Akins may feel more compelled to sign a pro contract. Something the Dodgers have going for them is the fact that Nick lists Manny Ramirez as his sports hero. He has some holes in his game, but enough upside to warrant an over-slot bonus to get him into the system.
Pick 26: Richie Shaffer, SS (NC HS)
Scouting Report: Shaffer was ranked as the 50th best draft prospect by Baseball America last November. But a month later, he'd break a hamate bone in his hand which would hamper his swing all year and eventually require surgery. When healthy, Richie would show off plus hit and power tools with adequate arm strength and speed.
Analysis: The hand injury will probably land Shaffer in Clemson and he could end up being a first round pick in 2012. It would be great if the Dodgers could sign him out of his college commitment, but McCourt has yet to show that he's willing to spend big bucks on late round picks. Hopefully, that trend will end this year.
Overall: A solid second day for the Dodgers. Songco should sign and come out swinging, while the two athletic backstops picked behind him offer some upside. If the Dodgers could sign Shaffer I'd be thrilled, though I don't expect it to happen. Be sure to check back tomorrow as I recap the draft's final day.
posted by Jared @ 4:26 PM
2 Comments:
At 9:27 AM ,
Anonymous said...
DAS1410/BLUEFAN,
Follow your minor league stuff every day. Sorry that I don't have time to post more often. Anyway ....
So far I am a bit miffed by this draft, but calmer than yesterday. My final reaction will ultimately be based upon the signings. If some of the higher rated talent that we passed over for guys like Smith and Songco and even a bit pre-mature Wallach (although I did have him on my mock, just a couple of rounds down), sign for around the same money, then I will truely be miffed.
It will also be interesting to find out who had control and how much. Remember, Logan White has been promoted since last year. We don't know how much responsibility he handed over to Tim Halligren (sp).
Also, I understand the need to pick some "signable" filler type guys in the middle rounds, but how about at least a few with some upside, rather than just throwing in a bunch of College Seniors. Did they forget about the small schools like Catawba College that they got OF Jerry Sands out of last year. There are/were two guys available this year 3B/OF Craige Lyerly and C Ryan Query who would have been better than the "Seniors" we drafted.
At 11:27 PM ,
Jared said...
Thanks for reading, I appreciate it.
It does appear that the Dodgers made some signability picks, with JT Wise in the 5th being a 23 year old senior who put up insane splits against lefties. I liked the Smith pick until I found out they took him as an OF. The Songco pick doesn't bother me much, since I think he'll hit.
Going heavy with college players was a bit out of character for the Dodgers, though White has said the fact that more teams were taking high schoolers early left more collegians on the board.
Hopefully the reason the Dodgers are going cheap in the draft because they're planning on signing some big names in the international market. I've heard the Dodgers linked to several of the top prospects in latin America. We'll see what happens in the next few months.
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